World Players Institute 2026: Where Research Takes the Field

Christoph Breuer is Full Professor of Sport Management and Head of the Institute of Sport Economics and Sport Management at German Sport University Cologne. A founding member of the European Sports Economics Association, his research career spans over 25 years, establishing him as a leading sport economist in such areas as club ownership and more recently gender equity. He has held senior university leadership roles including Vice Rector positions from 2014-2024.

A former professional player with over 90 appearances for Scotland, Frankie Brown understands the unique needs of footballers. Frankie has a PhD in exercise immunology and extensive exercise physiology research expertise. As Head of Research and Strategy for Women's Football at FIFPRO, Frankie leads the effort to expand research and accelerate progress, driving forward initiatives that improve the women’s game and empower players globally.

Gabriela Garton is a former professional football player, who also played for the Argentinian National Football Team, and is now a Player Relations Coordinator at the World Players Association, leading their work on women’s sports and its academic scholar network. She is an experienced researcher on women’s football and gender inequality, with a PhD in Social Studies from the University of Buenos Aires and has also worked as a casual lecturer and research assistant at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia.

Professor Sophia Nimphius applies a multidisciplinary approach to athlete performance, athlete health, and the role of sport as a vehicle for change. She is an Independent Expert on the Scientific Panel of the European Club Association, appointed to the Advisory Council for Sport Integrity Australia by the Honourable Minister for Sport and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sport) and Professor of Human Performance at Edith Cowan University.

Leanne O'Leary is Assistant Professor in the Department of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University, Ireland, and a dual-qualified solicitor in England/Wales and New Zealand. Her research focuses on athletes' employment rights and sports dispute resolution, having been a co-investigator on both the the EMPLOY and SOPROS projects, with publications in the Industrial Law Journal and International Sports Law Journal. She serves on the Premier League Judicial Panel and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation Ethics Committee, and is a Non-Executive Director of Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland.

Billymo Rist is the AFLPA’s Head of Programs and Services, providing executive leadership across player engagement, health and safety, healthcare, and strategic partnerships. He founded business intelligence firm Intention Lab, specializing in data-driven insights. With a PhD in Psychology/Health Science, Billymo serves as adjunct professor at Torrens University, adjunct lecturer at La Trobe University, and he chairs the Australian Netball Wellbeing Advisory Committee. His research focuses on transitions, brain health, and behavioural economics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Richard Southall is Professor of Sport and Entertainment Management at the University of South Carolina and Director of the College Sport Research Institute. His research focuses on the exploitation of athletes in for-profit college sport, sport ethics, and NCAA legal issues, with publications in leading journals. He has co-authored two sport management textbooks and delivered over 100 national and international research presentations. Co-author: The NCAA and the Exploitation of College Profit-Athletes: An Amateurism That Never Was (2023).

Kim Toffoletti is an Associate Professor in Sociology at Deakin University, Australia, and co-director of its Women In Sport and Exercise (WISE) network. She brings over 20 years’ experience in teaching, research and advocacy in the areas of gender, sport, feminism, media and new technologies. Kim sits on the advisory board of several leading sport journals and is the author of more than 90 publications, including 3 books.

Fiona Wilson is a professor and physiotherapist in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. With over 30 years of experience in clinical physiotherapy, teaching and research, she served as lead physiotherapist for Rowing Ireland for 10 years and is a member of the World Rowing Sports Medicine Commission and co-chair of the Rugby Science Network for World Rugby. Her research focuses (primarily in rugby and rowing) on examination and synthesis of epidemiology and biomechanics to create meaningful prevention and management strategies for injury and pain in sport.